UPPER MARLBORO – Today, the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Student Safety Task Force announced that it is seeking comments from the public as part of its policy and review process. The Task Force will consider the comments as part of the information gathering process. The participation of the community is integral to the overall success of the Task Force’s mission.

“Ensuring that Prince George’s County public schools are safe is of the utmost importance,” said Dr. Charlene M. Dukes, President of Prince George’s Community College and Chair of the Task Force. “We have been tasked and empowered to review the school system’s current policies and procedures designed to protect and safeguard students. The input and perspective of the public will help inform our recommendations to Dr. Kevin Maxwell and his team.”

The Task Force has divided its work into four categories including: reporting of abuse and staff training; school culture and climate; screening of employees and volunteers; and health curriculum and counseling.

Parents, students, community members, and current or former PGCPS employees who would like to submit comments to the Task Force are asked to visit the website atwww.pgcps.org and click on the yellow tab that says Take Student Safety Survey or click on www1.pgcps.org/Survey.

The Task Force appreciates assistance gathering comments and will read every response with careful consideration. In May, the Task Force will release the findings and recommendations to the public.

-30-

Created by PGCPS CEO Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D., the Task Force is an independent review board designed to examine and assess the school system’s policies, procedures, practices, and key strategies related to the protection of students. The group, consisting of academics, experts, and county officials, is reviewing everything from current background checks to procedures related to reporting of abuse.

Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS), one of the nation's 25 largest school districts, has 208 schools and centers, more than 130,000 students and nearly 19,000 employees. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, the school system serves a diverse student population from urban, suburban and rural communities located in the Washington, DC suburbs. PGCPS is nationally recognized for innovative programs and initiatives that provide students with unique learning opportunities, including arts integration, environmental and financial literacy, and language immersion.

Prince George’s County Board of Education

The 'GREAT BY CHOICE' trademark is owned by The Good to Great Project LLC and Morten T. Hansen. Used under license.